school of hard knocks

American  

noun

1. the experience gained from living, especially from disappointment and hard work, regarded as a means of education.

   The only school he ever attended was the school of hard knocks.

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school of hard knocks Idioms  

1. The practical experience of life, including hardship and disappointments. For example, A self-made man, he never went to college but came up through the school of hard knocks. This idiom uses knock, “a blow,” as a metaphor for a setback. [Mid-1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of school of hard knocks

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

Example Sentences

After all, the hotel job was a step up on what he’d done before, in a whole other school of hard knocks.

From The Guardian • Sep. 25, 2019

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Drew Lock found out what the school of hard knocks will be like under new head coach Vic Fangio.

From Reuters • Jul. 19, 2019

Asked about the Cubans who have struck it rich in America, he said: “They all come from the same school of hard knocks, from the same plan.”

From New York Times • Jun. 29, 2016

He’s going through the school of hard knocks right now.

From Washington Times • Aug. 30, 2015

Usually they have gone through the school of hard knocks.

From Face to Face with Kaiserism by Gerard, James W. (James Watson)